Which server version to buy?

[Nick]

I took advantage of the free six-month trial on windows Server 2003.

I am a Visual Basic developer/consultant and use this software at home
mostly for learning purposes. I have my family's computers hooked up
to it and barely use any of the features, though I do experiment a lot
as time permits. Currently only regularly using group policy and
active directory. Intend to learn VB .NET, which I recently
purchased.

Cost is a concern, but I would like to keep my little family domain
set up -- currently five computers are attached. Which version of
Windows Server would suffice for our modest needs?

Need to find out and make a purchase soon because free trial will
expire in 11 days.

Thanks in advance.

-- Nick
[url]http://cultv.com[/url]
[url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

"Nick" <delonas@cultv.com> wrote in message
news:24ird0dfo19r7ojjnsmukto8jjk82d3g1j@4ax.com...

> I took advantage of the free six-month trial on windows Server 2003.
>
> I am a Visual Basic developer/consultant and use this software at home
> mostly for learning purposes. I have my family's computers hooked up
> to it and barely use any of the features, though I do experiment a lot
> as time permits. Currently only regularly using group policy and
> active directory. Intend to learn VB .NET, which I recently
> purchased.
>
> Cost is a concern, but I would like to keep my little family domain
> set up -- currently five computers are attached. Which version of
> Windows Server would suffice for our modest needs?
>
> Need to find out and make a purchase soon because free trial will
> expire in 11 days.
>
> Thanks in advance.

Windows Server 2003 Standard is the lowest cost option that satisfies your
needs to use Active Directory.


--

Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"Nick" <delonas@cultv.com> wrote in message
news:24ird0dfo19r7ojjnsmukto8jjk82d3g1j@4ax.com...

> I took advantage of the free six-month trial on windows Server 2003.
>
> I am a Visual Basic developer/consultant and use this software at home
> mostly for learning purposes. I have my family's computers hooked up
> to it and barely use any of the features, though I do experiment a lot
> as time permits. Currently only regularly using group policy and
> active directory. Intend to learn VB .NET, which I recently
> purchased.
>
> Cost is a concern, but I would like to keep my little family domain
> set up -- currently five computers are attached. Which version of
> Windows Server would suffice for our modest needs?
>
> Need to find out and make a purchase soon because free trial will
> expire in 11 days.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -- Nick
> [url]http://cultv.com[/url]
> [url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Hi Nick

Have you considered an MSDN subscription?

Since you're a developer, your use probably consists of "development, test
and demonstration", which is the allowed usage of software acquired through
MSDN.

If you went for an MSDN Professional subscription, you would get the OS
platforms (including Windows Server 2003) as well as the Professional
versions of Visual Studio .NET (and future versions as they are released).

The Operating Systems level is cheaper, but you don't get the development
tools.

Since you already have a license for Visual Basic, you would qualify for the
upgrade pricing (estimated price $899 for MSDN Professional).

See [url]http://msdn.microsoft.com/[/url]

For pricing,
[url]http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/buy/prices/default.aspx[/url].

For details of what you get at each level,
[url]http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/buy/choose/[/url].

Hope this helps

Oli



"Nick" <delonas@cultv.com> wrote in message
news:24ird0dfo19r7ojjnsmukto8jjk82d3g1j@4ax.com...

>I took advantage of the free six-month trial on windows Server 2003.
>
> I am a Visual Basic developer/consultant and use this software at home
> mostly for learning purposes. I have my family's computers hooked up
> to it and barely use any of the features, though I do experiment a lot
> as time permits. Currently only regularly using group policy and
> active directory. Intend to learn VB .NET, which I recently
> purchased.
>
> Cost is a concern, but I would like to keep my little family domain
> set up -- currently five computers are attached. Which version of
> Windows Server would suffice for our modest needs?
>
> Need to find out and make a purchase soon because free trial will
> expire in 11 days.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -- Nick
> [url]http://cultv.com[/url]
> [url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[Nick]

On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 20:28:33 +0100, "Mike Brannigan [MSFT]"
<mikebran@online.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Windows Server 2003 Standard is the lowest cost option that satisfies your
>needs to use Active Directory.

Thanks Mike.

Anybody research the best price deals out there on Server 2003
Standard? Best price I've seen so far is at buycheapsoftware.com and
I don't even know if they're legit.

--Nick
-- Nick
[url]http://cultv.com[/url]
[url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[Nick]

>Hope this helps

Hey, that's a great tip. I have never investigated that

I'm a cheapskate, but may have been penny wise and pound foolish in
this case.

--Nick
-- Nick
[url]http://cultv.com[/url]
[url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[clintonG]

Microsoft Empower Program makes it possible for developers
to acquire MSDN Universal Subscriptions for something like
$375 but the developer is responsible to meet the requirements.

You can also acquire the 'Microsoft Action Pack' quite inexpensively.

I'm not exactly sure if Small Business Server 2003 supports the Active
Directory but it too is a 'must evaluate' choice.

Finally, last August 2003 Microsoft began selling SQL Server 2000
Developers Edition for $49.00 which you should also look into.


--
<%= Clinton Gallagher
A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
NET csgallagher@ REMOVETHISTEXT metromilwaukee.com
URL [url]http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/[/url]




"Nick" <delonas@cultv.com> wrote in message
news:rmqrd0pjo3t4klvai680fglca32en9k9d2@4ax.com...

>

> >Hope this helps

>
> Hey, that's a great tip. I have never investigated that
>
> I'm a cheapskate, but may have been penny wise and pound foolish in
> this case.
>
> --Nick
> -- Nick
> [url]http://cultv.com[/url]
> [url]http://ironia.net[/url]

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Look very carefully at the requirements of the Empower Program.

$375 is just the start.

Good catch on Small Business Server 2003.

Oli


"clintonG" <csgallagher@REMOVETHISTEXT@metromilwaukee.com> wrote in message
news:%2306a82HXEHA.4064@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> Microsoft Empower Program makes it possible for developers
> to acquire MSDN Universal Subscriptions for something like
> $375 but the developer is responsible to meet the requirements.
>
> You can also acquire the 'Microsoft Action Pack' quite inexpensively.
>
> I'm not exactly sure if Small Business Server 2003 supports the Active
> Directory but it too is a 'must evaluate' choice.
>
> Finally, last August 2003 Microsoft began selling SQL Server 2000
> Developers Edition for $49.00 which you should also look into.
>
>
> --
> <%= Clinton Gallagher
> A/E/C Consulting, Web Design, e-Commerce Software Development
> Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin USA
> NET csgallagher@ REMOVETHISTEXT metromilwaukee.com
> URL [url]http://www.metromilwaukee.com/clintongallagher/[/url]
>
>
>
>
> "Nick" <delonas@cultv.com> wrote in message
> news:rmqrd0pjo3t4klvai680fglca32en9k9d2@4ax.com...

>>

>> >Hope this helps

>>
>> Hey, that's a great tip. I have never investigated that
>>
>> I'm a cheapskate, but may have been penny wise and pound foolish in
>> this case.
>>
>> --Nick
>> -- Nick
>> [url]http://cultv.com[/url]
>> [url]http://ironia.net[/url]

>
>